Chapter 7: The aroma of garlic lures the crowd, and a giant insect suddenly appears, startling the youth

Chunyu Qiong feigned anger and said: "Well, you Zhang Mengzhu, how dare you mock me? Let me show you just how formidable I can be by giving you a good beating. You have no idea of my strength"

Chunyu Qiong was taken aback and exclaimed, "Can garlic be used this way?"

Yuan Shao noticed that Lü Bu did not respond to him, which made him feel somewhat uncomfortable. In a fit of arrogance, he merely performed a bow and then turned to leave, greeting a few other young men before heading out to hunt for a while longer.

"Fengxian?" Everyone repeated it once and found it quite pleasing to the ear

Yuan Shu took down the bow and arrows hanging on his horse and, together with Cao Cao, hid in the shadows, slowly approaching the place ahead where someone was calling for help, led by Lü Bu

Lü Bu took out a few cloves of garlic from his pocket and said to Yuan Shu: "When it is half-cooked, cut open the garlic and spread it on the meat"

Yuan Shu said: "When we return to find good people, we do not know what will happen to my brother and the others. Why not combine the strength of the three of us? Are we really afraid of a large insect?"

Lü Bu, having nothing to do, might as well say a few words

Lü Bu said: "I am only afraid of encountering a fierce tiger."

Everyone burst into laughter upon hearing this

After speaking, Chunyu Qiong stepped forward to seize that elusive figure.

At this point, only Cao Mengde, Yuan Gonglu, and Zhang Miao remained by Lü Bu's side

Everyone is wearing a smile

In fact, not only was Chunyu Qiong greatly affected, but even Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who were accustomed to delicacies from the mountains and the sea, were also significantly moved

Before long, Yuan Shu indeed set aside his airs and approached Lü Bu, inquiring about the reason.

A man born into this world should ride forth on horseback, standing with a sword to achieve extraordinary feats, so that his life is not lived in vain

Jian Chunyu Qiong formally communicated with Lü Bu, while the other young men also smiled and introduced themselves, expressing their goodwill towards Lü Bu

As for Liu Dai, his courtesy name was Gongshan, and he was from Donglai Mouping (now northwest of Fushan, Shandong); Zhang Miao, with the courtesy name Mengzhuo, was from Dongping Shouzhang (now in the Yanggu area of Shandong); Bao Xin, whose courtesy name was Yuncheng, hailed from Pingyang of Mount Tai (now Xintai, Shandong); Xu You, with the courtesy name Ziyuan, was from Nanyang (now in Nanyang, Henan); and Xia Mou, whose courtesy name was Deke, was also from Dongping Shouzhang.

Lü Bu said: "Just adapt to your circumstances and find peace."

Yuan Shu developed a desire to befriend Lü Bu, and he was quite candid, often touching upon aspects of martial skills in his conversation

Yuan Shao, styled Benchu, Yuan Shu, styled Gonglu, and Cao Cao, styled Mengde, these individuals are naturally well-known

Lü Bu did not find it strange; instead, he said, "Once it is ripe, I will share it with you"

Chunyu Qiong did not hold back, quickly jogging over and taking several deep breaths, which made him feel even hungrier

Yuan Shu laughed and said, "It seems that you understand the ways of commerce, listening to Fengxian's words?"

Yuan Shu expressed his gratitude to Lü Bu for the guidance, as if he were holding a precious treasure, and then took the several cloves of garlic over there and divided them.

All three individuals possess distinct colors

You, living in wealth and privilege, cannot possibly understand the lives of ordinary commoners.

It turns out that garlic, although introduced from the Western Regions during the Western Han Dynasty, was temporarily used only in the homes of ordinary people due to its pungent and irritating odor, and it was not popular among the upper aristocracy.

Chunyu Qiong smiled and said: "Having known you for so long, I only just now learned your courtesy name, hehe, Zhong Jian, is the same as the characters in my books."

The place where Lü Bu lived was merely a small village, with only a mother to take care of him. How could anyone write inscriptions for him? It is just that others could not write, but Lü Bu himself indeed said, "Fengxian."

Lü Bu looked at the spirited Yuan Shao, but inwardly he thought: It is only natural for Yuan Shao, born into such a prominent family, to have ambitions. However, he should consider how many lives must be sacrificed for the so-called achievements they speak of, and how many beautiful women are left alone in empty rooms.

Although Chunyu Qiong does not consider himself a scholar, he places importance on etiquette at this age. Therefore, he does not like the smell of garlic, yet it now seems so enticing.

Yuan Shao and the others were engaged in cheerful conversation when they suddenly caught a whiff of an alluring fragrance that was extremely enticing

Chunyu Qiong, having had a half-satisfactory meal with Lü Bu, smiled apologetically before hurriedly returning to Yuan Shao and the others, where he began to distribute the food.

Lü Bu was unaware, and even when he realized that this short man was Cao Cao, he still harbored thoughts of killing him. However, how could someone as proud as he allow such cowardly behavior to occur

Yuan Shao approached Lü Bu, filled a cup of wine for him, and said with a smile: "I wonder what plans you have after this, surely you do not intend to stay in the martial arts school forever"

The reason is quite simple; today’s aristocratic families place great emphasis on etiquette. Before stepping out, one must engage in "self-reflection three times." As for one’s breath, it is even more crucial to pay attention to it. If peers detect an unpleasant breath, it may only significantly tarnish one’s impression. However, if it is perceived by elders or masters, it could lead to a bad reputation.

After a long wait, when Lü Bu finally said "Alright," Chunyu Qiong hurriedly took the half rabbit that Lü Bu had given him, blew on it to cool it down, and then took a bite.

Yuan Shu encountered a setback, yet he was not angry; instead, he smiled and said: "In fact, we are not entirely oblivious to the hardships of the world. As the saying goes, when great responsibilities are bestowed upon a person, they must toil their muscles and bones, and endure hardships in their hearts. However, we cannot choose our origins. We only hope to serve as officials in the future, doing more for the people."

Lü Bu, a native of Jiu Yuan County in Wuyuan Commandery (present-day Baotou, Inner Mongolia)

Three men on three horses, seeking the traces of Yuan Shao and his companions, wishing to join them

Leave the audience in fits of laughter

The two people laughed and scolded as they ran towards the distance of the runway

With each bite, the deliciousness spreads in the mouth, and with the addition of garlic seasoning, this rabbit meat is not only fragrant but also has a delightful spiciness on the surface, making it a hundred times more delicious compared to simply using salt.

Lü Bu said: "It's just some garlic"

Yuan Shu and Cao Cao both smiled.

Zhang Miao was still savoring the excellent flavor that the wild game had taken on after being paired with garlic, and he smiled as he said, "By the way, if we promote this garlic for use in food preparation, we could become the only ones in Luoyang doing so, and who knows, we might even make quite a bit of money."

Then, Lü Bu stood up and said, "I have eaten well; it's time to stretch my muscles a bit. This time, I will also prepare dinner."

Chunyu Qiong was enjoying his meal immensely, while the group of young men nearby looked on with envy. A few of them had taken some roasted game but found it utterly tasteless, feeling as though all the delicacies of the world were contained within that one rabbit.

At present, Yuan Shu shows no sign of the future tyrant of Yangzhou; he still harbors some thoughts of serving the country and the people. After some contemplation, Lü Bu decided it was unwise to further ridicule them.

Chunyu Qiong said with a smile: "Lü Bu, I just saw you apply something on it. How can it have such a fragrant aroma that makes one unable to resist the temptation?"

I did not want to merely pass a period of time, only to hear someone ahead shouting "Help!" accompanied by the roar of a beast

Cao Cao's complexion was pale; although his body trembled, he still asked, "What should we do? Should we return to call for help or go assist right now?"

As everyone looked on, they saw him applying something to the rabbit meat, and when he roasted it over the fire, the aroma was truly irresistible

Lü Bu said: "These garlics are already extremely common in the homes of ordinary people. Even if you can gain a temporary advantage, as soon as your opponent buys a few, they will likely follow suit quickly, and at that time, it will become commonplace."

Yuan Shu said with a smile, "Lü Bu, how did you come up with this method"

Beside him, Chunyu Qiong also asked, "Lü Bu, have you received your courtesy name?"

However, Cao Cao has never left Lü Bu, yet he remains silent and reticent, completely unlike his usual demeanor

Zhang Miao laughed as he ran away, saying: "Old Qiong, you only know how to bully others with your strength. Why don't you go and spar with Lu Bu for a few rounds first"

Indeed, these wild delicacies, after being smeared with garlic, exude an irresistible aroma, causing mouths to water and completely lacking the image of a refined gentleman

It is merely a thought, without much consideration.

And the flavor that came from the painting book of Chunyu Qiong was, in fact, the scent transmitted from Lü Bu.

Chunyu Qiong, filled with joy, embraced Lu Bu's shoulders and said: "From now on, we shall be brothers and good friends. If anyone in Luoyang dares to bully you, just tell your elder brother Chun, and I will make sure they pay for it"

Lü Bu was also extremely interested in Cao Cao, as he would inevitably have to deal with him in the future. Moreover, for Lü Bu, Cao Cao was like his destined rival. It was as if fate had brought them together at this moment, and would the course of history be altered due to his rebirth?

Who would have thought that Lü Bu, leading the way ahead, suddenly shouted "Be careful," and then a magnificent tiger leaped out from one side

Lü Bu said: "Let me go take a look first. You two dismount; this horse is likely to be unable to run if it encounters a great beast, and it will only hold you back later."

Zhang Miao beside him laughed and said: "Old brother Chunyu Qiong, you are not afraid of boasting and tripping over your own tongue. Fengxian's martial arts are still superior to yours; why do you still need to help him? I fear that in the end, it will be Fengxian who has to turn back to save you, and that would be truly unfortunate."

In ancient times, it was customary for elders in the family or prominent local figures to bestow a name upon one's offspring around the time of their coming of age, signifying that they had grown up and were capable of independence.

Today, however, was the day when this group of young men feasted the most. After indulging in food and drink, Chunyu Qiong, Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and others gathered around Lü Bu to sit down

Lü Bu is no longer as indifferent towards Chunyu Qiong and these young men as he was in the past. It seems that this time regarding the garlic matter, it can be considered a mutual exchange of kindness. However, seeing them scramble for food, he cannot help but smile.